Statement by the delegation of Ukraine in the UNSC emergency meeting on Aleppo (Syria)

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Statement by the delegation of Ukraine in the UNSC emergency meeting on Aleppo (Syria)

(4 May 2016)

Mr. President,

Let me thank the UK delegation and the Egyptian presidency for initiating and convening this very timely open briefing.

My special gratitude goes to distinguished briefers for their detailed overview of the current situation in Aleppo in particular, and Syria in general.

Ukraine strongly condemns airstrikes and indiscriminate shelling carried out in and around Aleppo over the recent period, which took lives of more than 250 people, leaving thousands injured and wounded.

Last week’s bombardment of Al Quds Hospital in the Sukkari neighborhood of Aleppo led to death of two doctors, including the only pediatrician in the city, three medical support staff and dozens of patients, among them children.

Yesterday, yet another Aleppo’s hospital, Dabeet, came under fire. At least 3 people were killed and dozens of civilians were wounded.

The escalation of violence was also observed in other parts of Syria, for example in Dar’aa, where heavy fighting and aerial bombardments have resumed. We commend the Special Envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, for his efforts in bringing the cessation of hostilities in Syria back on track.

But how can it be achieved, when the government pushes on with the military offensive in Aleppo, provoking a further escalation in fighting, which leads to deaths of scores of civilians trapped in the city? We note the claims that Al-Nusra was targeted; however what’s not acceptable is the destruction of schools, hospitals, the city’s other vital infrastructure, leaving thousands of civilians without water, electricity, medical care and food.

It is hard to believe that such offensive of Syrian regime would be possible without approval of its major ally that poses itself as a mediator in negotiating process. Amazing enough, this very delegation, moments ago, tried to convince us that “recently the situation in Syria has radically improved”.

The aerial bombardments must stop. The indiscriminate attacks against civilians must stop. Only immediate recommitment to the cessation of hostilities, which must include Aleppo, can alleviate the plight of the Syrian people.

Against the backdrop of the rapidly increasing violence in and around Aleppo, Ukraine considers the unanimous adoption of the Security Council resolution 2286 on protection of civilians in armed conflict as very timely and extremely important step and we call on all sides to fully respect its provisions.

The failure to do that will lead to the collapse of the cessation of hostilities and bring more violence, death and destruction while further undermining prospects to find a negotiated solution to the Syrian conflict.

In this regard, we call upon all parties to comply strictly with their obligations under Security Council resolution 2268 concerning the cessation of hostilities and to resume substantive talks in Geneva on all aspects stipulated in the Security Council resolution 2254.

Finally, Mr. President, I wish to put on record strong support of our delegation of the draft press statement, circulated by the UK just now. It deserves an urgent approval and it does not deserve at all to be labeled as propaganda step, as the Russian delegation has called it.

We urge other members of this Council to seriously consider it.

I thank you, Mr. President.